Friends of the 502 Group

We are grateful to all those who have already signed up as members, paying by cheque or using PayPal. However, have you considered setting up a regular Standing Order from your bank account? Standing Orders are a great way to make a regular contribution to the group’s funds and ensure we have a regular income throughout the year, without hurting your own finances.

For example, a contribution of £10 per month works out at less than 40p per day, but over the course of a year will build up to £120, which will be a great help to us when buying tools or equipment. You can choose to donate a larger or smaller amount to suit your own pocket.

Whether you are an existing member, or are about to join us for the first time, please consider a standing order. Details are available on the membership page, or contact the group treasurer to request a standing order mandate.

The Friends of the 502 Group will be present at the annual Southport Model Railway Society exhibition on the weekend of 26/27 September. As always at these type of events, members of the Friends of the 502 Group will be on hand to talk about the restoration project.

The exhibition is open from 10am-5pm on both days and takes place at Birkdale High School (location map). More details are available on the poster below, or at the Southport MRS web site.

Southport MRS poster

We have been mentioned in the latest issue of RAIL Magazine, out on 12th August. If you came here after reading about us there, welcome!

The Friends of the 502 Group will be at the annual Woodvale Rally next weekend.

This is your chance to meet members of the Friends, learn more about the 502 and join the group if you haven’t done so already.

The Rally takes place at RAF Woodvale, near Southport, on the weekend of 1-2 August and is open from 9am to 6pm on both days. More information is available at the Woodvale Rally web site.

Saturday 4th July was the first opportunity for most of the group’s members to see the 502 in the flesh. Indeed, this was the first time in many years that the unit would be seen by anyone but a few select MoD Kineton employees. Read on for pictures from the day and reports on the first tentative steps towards the long-term restoration of the unit.

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These dramatic pictures of the 502 were taken by Tebay resident and amateur artist/photographer, Anthony English. He has kindly agreed to let us feature his work on the site, and some of his pictures are reproduced below.

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Our chairman, Duncan Reed, will be discussing the 502 on BBC Radio Cumbria on Monday morning between 8.30 and 9.00. Listen live online or catch up after the event on the BBC iPlayer (available for 7 days after broadcast).

The 502 will also be featured in the August issues of The Railway Magazine and Railways Illustrated. Both magazines are due to arrive at newsagents this week.

The 502 is in the news thanks to the Westmorland Gazette, which has run an article about the unit online and in the newspaper.

If you have ventured onto this site wanting to know more about the 502, please see our history page which provides the story so far.

If you want to see the unit up close, the only way to do so at the moment is to become a member and attend one of our members’ days — the next one is on July 4th.

Now that the 502 has safely arrived at Tebay, a members’ day has been arranged, where those who have joined the group will be able to inspect the unit up close after many years stored out of view.

The event is to take place on 4th July 2009 from 10am. Only fully paid-up members of the Friends of the 502 Group will be admitted; existing members should have received an e-mail containing more information. If you would like to see the unit, please see our membership page for information on joining the group.

The 502 has been moved from MoD Kineton to its new home in Tebay, Cumbria. The move took place in two separate stages: the trailer car arrived on Thursday 28 May, with the motor coach following it on Friday 29 May.

The pictures below, taken by the group’s Neil Squires, show the unit en route and upon arrival at Tebay on Friday. Click on the small picture to enlarge.

As can be seen from the pictures above, the unit is in need of considerable work to get it to a presentable condition. Your support is needed to ensure that this can happen. See our membership pages to find out how you can help us.